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| Press Release |
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Forsberg and Heather Bartlett become three time Placerville Speedway winners |
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PLACERVILLE ( 6-13-09 ) – The eighth Red Hawk Casino championship event of the season at ASA Racing sanctioned Placerville Speedway Saturday night saw two repeat winners and two new faces in victory lane. Andy Forsberg of Auburn scored his third championship win of the season in the winged sprint cars. Chico ’s Heather Bartlett brought her win streak to three in the Pure Stock division while Placerville ’s own John Krehbiel won his first home town victory in the Late Model Pro Stock division. The three track regulars were joined by Ken t Stephens of Modesto , winner in the visiting Wingless Sprint cars. In the sprint car division, Forsberg started the event on the outside of the second row and quickly worked into the lead, overtaking Placerville’s James Sweeney, Scott Kinney of Citrus Heights and Colby Wiesz of Colfax to take the helm. Once in front, Forsberg was challenged by Kinney and Sweeney throughout the race. Sweeney moved into second place on the ninth lap and nearly passed Forsberg for the lead until one of several yellow flags delayed the race and cleared the lapped traffic ahead of the leaders. Forsberg resumed his healthy lead through the many delays, one of which was a red in the final laps when both Joey Margaruh of Vacaville and Wiesz rolled over in turns three and four. Upon the restart Forsberg maintained his lead to the checkered flag where he was followed by Kinney who had overtaken Sweeney for second in the waning laps. Sweeney finished in third followed by Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove. DeCaires was the McDonald’s hardcharger of the race, gaining 8 positions. Mike Henry of Sacramento rounded out the top five. “We were really fast up top tonight, it was just really fast up there,”said Forsberg. “I got out in front early and the car was just perfect. I’d like to thank everyone for coming out tonight. I know times are tough and its great to see these stands so full every week supporting what we do.” In the Late Model Pro Stock division Krehbiel brought a new face to victory lane with his first win at his home town track. A former regular at tracks like Petaluma and Antioch , Krehbiel relocated to Placerville three years ago and began racing locally. Saturday night Krehbiel started on the outside of the front row for the 15-lap feature next to polesitter Dennis Armstrong with Dennis Ahart of Cameron Park and Jerry Bartlett of Yuba City in the second row. At the green flag Krehbiel took the lead and was soon joined by Bartlett, a four time winner at Placerville . Bartlett pulled inside of Krehbiel several times and the two drivers competitively traded paint for several laps until Krehbiel pulled ahead by a car length and Bartlett began feeling the pressure of defending champion Dan Brown Jr. of Nevada City. While Krehbiel drove out in front to victory, Bartlett and Brown gave it their all, both racing for the win as well and continuing a rivalry that was born since opening night. The two drivers rubbed doors and banged fenders, bringing the crowd the edge of their seats for the final three laps and continued a few thereafter and the night ended with Bartlett and Brown being tied for the point lead. At the line it was Krehbiel followed by Bartlett and Brown who earned the McDonald’s Hardcharger award. Matt Davis finished third followed by Armstrong. “I finally won a feature event here tonight and man does it feel good,” said Krehbiel. “I had a good starting position and the guys had the car set up good. Jerry raced me hard and clean and I got it. This is great.” In the Pure Stock division, Heather Bartlett brought her win streak to three on the year after a hard fought battle with former champion Tom Tilford. Tilford started the event on the outside of the front row and took the lead at the waving of the green flag from John Hollowhornbear of Shingle Springs. Bartlett started in the sixth position and wasted not time in joining her competitive rival up front. Working into second place with just two laps down, Bartlett pursued Tilford lap after lap. The two raced bumper to bumper and side by side for the remainder of the race, trading paint and rubbing tires and thrilling the fans once again. During the second half of the race Bartlett made several attempts to pass Tilford on the low groove. Tilford rallied back on each attempt but began losing air pressure in his left rear tire during the final eight laps of the race. On the 17th lap Bartlett swerved up high in turn three and then shot back down low beneath Tilford in the fourth turn where she took the lead. “I knew the tire was going down but I was trying to baby it for those final laps and during the cautions,” said Tilford. “I think it got cut when she and I made contact earlier, that happens when you race as close as we were tonight. I used my mad driving skills and gave it everything I had though.” Bartlett crossed the line with her third straight win of the year while Jason Englund of Citrus Heights snuck into second place over Tilford, Jared Vilt of Cameron Park and Dennis Armstrong of El Dorado . “I just love racing at this track, its great,” said Bartlett, who now sits tied with Tilford for the point lead. “We had another good race tonight, we raced really hard and really close. I went up high a couple of times in turn three and it worked good, its very fast up there.” In the visiting wingless sprint cars, Stephens started third and powered his way into the lead. He was followed by DJ Johnson, Wayne Trimble and Scott Hall. Placerville Speedway will take a week off from championship action to make room for the El Dorado County Fair. For complete results on Saturday’s race visit www.placervillespeedway.com. To learn more about the Hooves to Horsepower El Dorado County Fair visit www.eldoradocountyfair.org. |
